Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has launched the Prime Minister’s Youth Chromebook Scheme to give 500,000 Chromebook laptops to students over two years. He announced it at a ceremony in Islamabad on Sunday, 25 October 2026, according to Dawn. Reports differ on who will qualify and how to apply, so this article separates what is confirmed from what is still unclear.
What Was Announced
- Number: 500,000 Chromebooks.
- Time: Over two years.
- Who: Students across the country. The PM said students at religious seminaries are eligible, as in past schemes.
- Selection: The PM said distribution will be based on “ability and ability alone.” He said the scheme is meant to help students held back by poverty.
- Event: The launch ceremony of the Prime Minister’s Youth Chromebook Scheme in Islamabad.
Dawn quotes the PM as calling the provision of modern technology to young people “our collective responsibility.”
Earlier Promise
Dawn says that in August, on International Youth Day, the PM said 250,000 high-achieving students would receive Chromebooks this year. The reports do not say how this earlier figure fits with the new two-year total of 500,000.
Who Can Apply? Reports Differ
The reports I found do not agree, so check the official notice before you act.
- Daily Pakistan (25 October): Says eligibility, deadlines and documents are not yet stated and that the government “has not yet detailed the complete application and registration process.” It advises following the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme and other official government channels.
- PhoneWorld: Says selection is based on 2026 annual examination results, and that high-performing Class 9 (SSC-I) students in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan are eligible. It says only public-sector school students can apply and that private school students are excluded under the criteria announced so far.
PhoneWorld also says the PM personally handed devices at the launch to high-performing Grade 9 students and students from seminaries, and that the devices are refurbished Chromebooks. Dawn does not mention that. These claims come from one outlet and I could not check them against a government notice.
Registration Portal Claim
PhoneWorld says registration is through a portal run by the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC), at pmychromebooks.ibcc.edu.pk. It says you select your education board and enter your B-Form, CNIC or roll or registration number, without dashes. I could not open this portal or find it on an official government page, and Daily Pakistan says no portal has been named. Do not enter any details until the government or IBCC confirms the address through its official channels.
Who Is Backing the Scheme?
Daily Pakistan quotes Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, the PM’s Youth Programme chairman, as saying the Tokyo Technology Care Foundation has taken steps to support digital facilities for 500,000 students. Dawn does not name a partner and does not say how the scheme is funded. It mentions Pakistan’s first Google Chromebook assembly line, launched last year, but does not say Google is part of this scheme.
Background: Chromebooks Made in Pakistan
Profit by Pakistan Today reported in September 2024 that Google planned to produce 500,000 Chromebooks in Pakistan by 2026. Dawn says the Deputy PM hailed the country’s first Chromebook assembly line last year as a milestone for jobs, supply chains and tech exports. The reports I read do not confirm whether the Chromebooks in this scheme come from that line.
Other Points From the Event
- The PM referred to the recent opening of a Daanish School in Islamabad and said education should be a government priority.
- He said earlier PML-N governments gave out 600,000 laptops within a decade. This is the PM’s claim, and I could not check it.
What Is Not Clear
- The official eligibility rules and how students will be chosen.
- How and where to register, and any deadline.
- How many Chromebooks will be given in the first year.
- How the scheme is funded, and the Chromebook specifications.
- How devices will be shared among the provinces.
Advice for Students and Parents
- Wait for an official announcement from the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme or your education board.
- Do not pay anyone to “register” you or secure a laptop.
- Do not share your CNIC, B-Form or OTP on unofficial websites or social media pages. Fake scheme sites are common.
- Keep your results and B-Form handy in case they are needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Chromebooks will be given?
500,000 over two years.
When was it announced?
Sunday, 25 October 2026, in Islamabad.
Who gets them?
Students across the country, chosen on ability according to the PM. Seminary students are eligible.
How do I apply?
No official process has been confirmed in the reports I found. One outlet names a portal, which I could not verify.
Are private school students included?
PhoneWorld says they are excluded under the criteria announced so far. Official confirmation is not available.
Is there a deadline?
None confirmed.
The scheme is big on numbers but short on public details so far. Wait for official guidance before you apply or share any personal information.
